Smart tap tempo + sync to 1-12ppq signal

[Simon]

Original topic: https://forum.simntonic.com/viewtopic.php?t=113
See also https://forum.simntonic.com/viewtopic.php?t=129

This is about implementing syncing to any regular signal/audio running at anywhere between 1 to 12 ppqn. This could mean for example a click/metronome, a regular drum kick, or an analog clock from a Eurorack module.

This is a big deal to implement as the Midronome needs a "catch-up" mechanism to sync the downbeat to what is sent (meaning the device will gently accelerate or deccelerate until its metronome is in time with the signal). But the good news are this same mechanism will be able to be used on the tap tempo features (button, pedal, and drum pad), so that you can tap the tempo and the device will not only change its tempo, it will also "catch up" with how you are tapping until it is in sync with the taps.

This feature might be improved (probably after FW 5.0) into a "partial beat detection" so that the pulses/beat does not have to be regular. This way you could have a drummer with a sensor on a kick drum playing and the Nome would follow. Exciting stuff!


Important note: this type of sync is not very precise, consider it as precise as a tap tempo function with catch-up mechanism


Feel free to comment here regarding:

• If you think some information is missing or unclear
• How you would like this feature to be implemented (buttons, settings, how to activate, how it is done, etc.)
• Why you think this feature is a good addition to the Midronome

[Milosdrummer]

I strongly support this feature, as it can open up more possible uses for the Midronome. I think a lot of people mistake the current stated syncing options of Midronome for this 'sync to all signals', simply because they (me included) whish it does

[MPrinsen]

Very excited about this. Tap tempo with a catch up mechanism is essential when playing with a band.

[VRN]

Hi Simon,

Is there any movement on this? I would love the Midronome to follow a simple analogue metronome beat and output the corresponding MIDI-clock. I currently use a Selah Quartz to do that in order to control my time-based effects live (the metronome being set by the drummer for his click anyway). It works great, but the Selah seems to be dying on me and it is pretty expensive to replace and since I have the Midronome laying around doing nothing essentially waiting for this particular feature anyway, I was hoping it had developped further in this direction....

Best regards,

>V<

[Simon]

Hi

I cannot say for sure for now, but this might be delayed in order to make a Windows version for U-SYNC - as you may have seen on the Forums and the Facebook group.

But I am confused why you would need this feature to sync to a metronome? You can simply let the Midronome generate the metronome for you (then the clocks will be way more precise anyways), and you could give your drummer a tap tempo pedal or even a drum pad on which he can tap tempo and time signature.

Simon

[VRN]

Hi Simon,

That is not so good news. The reason for needing it is because our drummer (and the band) uses Peterson BodyBeats to stay in sync (wireless metronomes). The drummer sets the tempo from his wireless master metronome and the "slaves" of the rest of the band follows in sync. I use an extra BodyBeat to trigger a Selah Quartz 2 to output the beat as MIDI-clock. The Quartz works like a charm keeping all my time-based effects in snyc with the tempo of the songs. I was initially expecting the Midronome to do that job. As said, in one of my setups the Quartz is dying on me and they are both expensive and hard to come by, and since I already purchased the Midronome in anticipation of the function, I was hoping we would finally be that far.....

Anyway, I'm sure people would love U-Sync for Windows. I just have no need for that personally....

Happy Game tonight!

Best regards,

>V<

[armaster]

I would like to nome II to follow the band's tempo in live by taping external pedal.

I would like to tap tempo with external pedal in eighth notes but Nome II would send clock in quarter notes.

One possibility would be to select a factor (-2...) in the Nome II settings that would multiply or divide the tap tempo. For example, tap tempo 220tap/min and factor -2 --> 110 bpm.
Another option would be to select 120 bpm on the nome ii. For smaller tap tempo changes (140 tap/min), nome ii would follow the changes (140 bpm), and for larger sudden changes (tap tempo 220 tap/min), Nome II would be divided by 2:
tap tempo 220/120 bpm --> 110bpm. In this case the tap tempo in quarter notes or eighth noted woul result in to the same bpm.

In drummers word: nome II would follow tap tempo on hihat, which could be a combination of quarter, eight noters or even up beat in the same song.

[Simon]

I would like to nome II to follow the band's tempo in live by taping external pedal.

I would like to tap tempo with external pedal in eighth notes but Nome II would send clock in quarter notes.

One possibility would be to select a factor (-2...) in the Nome II settings that would multiply or divide the tap tempo. For example, tap tempo 220tap/min and factor -2 --> 110 bpm.
Another option would be to select 120 bpm on the nome ii. For smaller tap tempo changes (140 tap/min), nome ii would follow the changes (140 bpm), and for larger sudden changes (tap tempo 220 tap/min), Nome II would be divided by 2:
tap tempo 220/120 bpm --> 110bpm. In this case the tap tempo in quarter notes or eighth noted woul result in to the same bpm.

In drummers word: nome II would follow tap tempo on hihat, which could be a combination of quarter, eight noters or even up beat in the same song.

Thanks that is a great idea, I like it, kinda half-way between simple tap tempo and proper beat detection
I'll give it a go - no promises though!
Simon

PS: I moved your post into this topic as this is strongly related to the smart tap tempo feature.

[bogdanoctav]

Hey there!

Although I talked personally to Simon about this feature, I'd like to add it here, too.

Simon called it smart tap, could be also called tempo following or live tempo adjustment.
I currently know only a single device that does that, and only that: Ploytec one.2

The function is simple, but the programming for that is definitely a little tricky.

This function makes sense only in a live jam environment with several musicians. In those situations there is a particular phenomenon happening often:
If you have a steady bpm, the musicians might break off collectively from the bpm. I think this ability of collective tempo variation is an intrinsic part of the process that makes deep connection through music possible.

Now, when this happens, the bpm changes, obviously, but also the phase changes.

Smart tap has to calculate both of them, the bpm change and the offset, and calculate a catch up maneuver, that has to be readjusted with every new tap so that in the end the midi tempo is matching the organic beat.

I cannot stress how important I find this feature, as I think it might be a missing link in bridging organic, jammed music with electronic music.

My Ploytec one.2 pedal does this reasonably well, but lacks too many things that the nome has: a display, trigger out inputs and the possibility to change the tempo also via knob.

Simon, I'm having high hopes on this and would love to showcase this feature in some videos.

Out and over, from snowy Transylvania!